UNCCD and Shenyang University partner up to advance sustainable land management

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – December 2024

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Shenyang University of China have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on the sidelines of the 16th Conference of the Parties (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This landmark step underscores a shared commitment to advancing research, capacity building, and technology transfer in the critical areas of black soil carbon and sustainable land management (SLM).

The collaboration aims to address the global challenge of black soil degradation, which has significant implications for food security, climate change mitigation, and combating desertification. Both parties recognize the pressing need to fill knowledge gaps and promote sustainable practices that enhance land resilience and productivity.

Key objectives of the collaboration:

• Promotion of south-south cooperation on combating Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) in general and black soil carbon management in particular.
• Joint research initiatives: Focusing on black soil carbon dynamics and innovative land management strategies.
• Knowledge management: Facilitating knowledge sharing and exchange of technologies, experiences and best practices and building capacity among practitioners and researchers to implement sustainable land practices.
• Technology transfer: Facilitating the exchange of cutting-edge technologies and best practices in combating desertification and land degradation.

The LOI also outlines plans to explore the establishment of an International Black Soil Carbon and Sustainable Land Management Research Center. This center will serve as a hub for knowledge sharing and scientific collaboration, driving progress toward achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

Andrea Meza Murillo, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, and Zhao Yanzhi, President of Shenyang University, emphasized the importance of this partnership in addressing global land degradation challenges.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the fight against desertification, contributing to the broader goals of the UNCCD Strategic Framework 2018-2030 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).